US PRESIDENT Donald Trump was branded “a petulant child” by Newport West MP Paul Flynn during a Parliamentary debate into a petition calling for a planned state visit to be cancelled.

The long-serving Labour MP led the debate into the online petition, which was signed by 1.85 million people today, as well as another backing the idea, which 311,000 people added their names to.

Opening the debate, which was held to sounds of an anti-Trump protest held outside the Parliament, Mr Flynn said he was concerned holding the visit would put the Queen in a “very difficult position”.

But he was keen to point out the petition did not call for Mr Trump to be stopped from coming to the UK altogether, but rather that his proposed state visit, a formal occasion hosted by the Queen which would involve the President addressing Parliament, should be cancelled.

Calling the Mr Trump “a petulant child” and saying “the intellectual capacity of the president is protozoan,” Mr Flynn said: “There was a great feeling of concern that welled up in this petition.”

But foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan said the government had no plans to cancel the visit, saying it was important for strengthening diplomatic relations with America.

“This is a special moment for the special relationship,” he said.

“The visit should happen. The visit will happen,”

Sir Alan added similar invitations had also been extended to both President Obama and President Bush during their first terms.

Speaking at the end of the debate Mr Flynn, who has frequently criticised Mr Trump’s views, said he was concerned such an invitation could be seen as an endorsement of the President and his controversial policies.

He added cancelling the visit would be “expressing the view of the people”, saying “a thunderous view it is”.